Method and apparatus for drilling wells



March 31, 1942. Y L. P. KINNEARY 2,277,989

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed Dec. 12, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Rmmm IN VENT 0Z2, WpQ WA/ March 31, 1942.

| P. KINNEAR METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed Dec. 12, 19354 Sheets-Shet 2 March 31, 1942. L. P. KINNEAR 2,277,989

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed Dec. 12, 1935 4Sheefg-Sheet s 44 524 mm a 4 3 3m 3 W 4 4 C 4I U O 3 5 4 344% 4 Maya asI March 31, 1942. 1.. P. KINNEAR 2,277,939

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed Dec. 12, 19534'SheetsSheet 4 lNl/ENTOP,

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 stares FATE Leland I. Kinnear, Beaumont, Tex.

Application December 12, 1933, Serial No. 701,951

(ill. 255-72) Claims.

The invention relates to newand useful improvements in a system ofdrilling wells by use of drilling apparatus which may be transportedthrough pipe sections and attached and detached to a chuck connected tosaid pipe sections, without removing the chuck and pipe sections fromthe well hole.

An object of the invention is to provide a -method by which drillingapparatus may be transported to and from a chuck through pipe sectionsconnected thereto, said .drilling apparatus being attached, detached andremoved from the chuck and pipe sections by use of moving fluid underpressure, without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the wellhole.

A further objector the invention is to provide a method whereby movingfluid under pressure may be utilized to replace a drilling apparatus andmeans to regulate the pressure within the well hole while the drillingapparatus is in transit, to hold wild pressures, such as oil and gaspressures in abeyance and prevent heaving and slufling formations of theearth from freezing the pipingin the well hole.

A further object of the invention is'to provide a method wherebydrilling apparatus may be controlled within the pipe sections by meansregulating the flow of the moving fluid.

A still further object or the invention is to provide a grappleapparatus which may be used in case of necessity to be dispatchedthrough pipe sections by moving fluid under pressure to engage adrilling apparatus of the above type, and means whereby moving fluidunder pressure may be utilized to dislodge said drilling apparatus andtransport the same and said grapple apparatus upwardly through the chuckand pipe section's without removing the chuck and pipe sections from thewell hole.

Another object of the invention is to provide drilling apparatus whichmay be interchangeably attached and detached of a chuck through pipesections by use of moving fluid under pressure to carry out my system ofdrilling wells.

These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious andwill in part be more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of theinvention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the surfacecasing cemented in the earth forming a support for the well cap attachedthereto with the upper portion of the members surrounding thepipesections allowing the pipe sections to be rotated and fed forwardtherethrough by the well known rotary system of drilling, with catcherstationed within the upper portion of the pipe sections and turn tablejoint andswivel connection thereabove for connection with regulatingvalve, also well cap connection provided with regulating valve by whichthe flow of the fluid may be regulated, the single arrowheads denotingthe course oi the fluid downwardly through theipipe sections returningupwardly exteriorly ofsaid pipe sections and interiorly of the well holeto be dis charged through the valve connection in the well cap; thedouble arrow heads denoting the course of the fluid in oppositedirection passing downwardly through the valve connection into the wellcap and downwardly through the well hole exteriorly of the pipe sectionsand upwardly interiorly of the pipe sections to be discharged throughthe valve connections attached to the swivel thereabove.

Fig. lb is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the lowerportion of the pipe sections and chuck with the drilling apparatusseated on the chuck in operative position for drilling, the single arrowheads indicating the course of the fluid passing downwardly through thepipe sections directed through the fluid passageways in the drillingapparatus in communication with the interior of the pipe sections, to beexpelled at the lower end thereof and forced upwardly.

exteriorly of the chuck and pipe sections to be discharged through valveconnections in the well cap.

Fig. 1c is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the lowerportion of the pipe sections and chuck with the drilling apparatus beingforced upwardly therethrough by moving fluid under pressure, the courseof the fluid being indicated by double arrow heads,

Fig. 1d is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the lowerportion of the pipe sections and chuck with the sample drillingapparatus seated on the chuck in operative position for drilling, thesingle arrow heads indicating the course of the fluid passing downwardlythrough the pipe sections and directed through the sample drillingapparatus to be expelled at the lower end thereof and forced upwardlyexteriorly oi the chuck and pipe sections to be discharged through valveconnections in the well cap.

Fig. la is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the lowerportion of the pipe sections with the sample drilling apparatus beingforced upwardly therethrough by moving fluid under by double arrowheads.

Fig. 1e is a continuation of Fig. 1e, showing the lower portion of thesample drilling apparatus being a view similar to'Fis. is.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, in part section,

' illustrating the upper portion of the spear tube head of the drillingapparatus in engagement with thecatcherstationed within the upperportion of the pipe sections.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical side view, partly sectional, of thegrapple apparatus being forced downwardly through pi'pe sections, thesingle arrow heads denoting the course of the fluid.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical side view, partly sectional, of thegrapple apparatus, illustrating the grapple stem in engagement with theupper portion of the spear tube head of the drilling apparatus, thesingle arrow heads showing the course of the fluid downwardly.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1b.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 65 of Fig. lb.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line '|'I of Fig. 1b.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 88 of Fig, 1b.

' Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line 9-9 of Fig. lb.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line |0l0 of Fig. 1b.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line Il-l| of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line l2-l2 of Fi 3.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing the lower end of the chuck withthe drill bits and wedges seated thereon and in edge view.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line l4ai4a of Fig. 1e. I

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the central cutter of the drillingapparatus.

Fig. 16 is a top view of a wedge member.

Fig. 1'7 is a vertical side view, partly sectional,

of an elongated spear tube head used in connection with the drillingapparatuses and grapple apparatus in pipe sections and couplings havingirregular internal bores, illustrating the elongated spear tube headpassing through pipe sections and couplings of irregular internal boreswith sealing rings seated within the couplings whose openings conformsubstantially to the outer periphery of the elongated spear tube head.

Fig. 18, is a sectional view taken on the line l8|8 of Fig. 1d. v

The invention is directed to a system of drilling wells by the use ofdrilling apparatuses adapted to drilla complete well without removingthepiping from the well hole. By use of the novel drilling devices,unexplored depths can be reached by reason of the principles involved inreplacing the desired type of drill through the pipe sections andattaching and detaching the same interchangeably of a chuck connected tothe pipe sections by force of moving fluid under pressure withoutremoving the chuck and pipe sections from the well hole, and withoutresort to mechanical means acting as a conveyor for the drilling2,277,989 pressure, the course of the fluid being indicated to the pipesections without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the wellhole.

In the drawings, l denotes a plurality of easing members joined bythreaded engagement with each other and cemented in the earth to form apermanent surface casing for the well hole II, with the upper portion ofthe surface casing protruding above the earth's surface, generallyindicated at Ill. The surface casing serves as a conduit for thedrilling fluid employed in the rotary system of drilling wells as wellas providing a support for a well cap 2 through which the pipe sections3 and chuck 4 attached to the pipe sections may be inserted andrevolved, said well cap being utilized as a sealing member through whichthe pipe sections may be rotated and fed forward by the use of the wellknown turntable and machinery adapted for such purposes, said well capbeing provided with a valve 5 and suitable connections 5 through whichthe drilling fluid may be passed and the flow thereof regulated. Aturn-table joint I having suitable connections 8 and valve 9 attachedthereto. The turn-table joint is joined in threaded engagement with thepipe sections through which the drilling fluid may be passed and theflow thereof regulated by the valve 9. Thus it will be seen thatcirculation of the drilling fluid under high pressures may be forced byslush pumps, (not shown here) connected to either of the two connectionsand valvesabove, in either direction to suit the purpose of the operatorin carrying out a method hereinafter disclosed of replacing drillingapparatuses through pipe sections and attaching and detaching the sameon a chuck connected to said pipe sections by use of moving fluid underpressure without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the wellhole. Drilling apparatus as hereinafter described are adapted to beinserted into the pipe sections 3 and the tumtable joint 1 is connectedto the pipe sections and fluid under pressure is forced into saidturntable joint through connections 6 and valve 5 by slush pumps incommunication therewith, which forces the drilling apparatus down to aseated and locked operative position on the chuck I located at thebottom of the pipe section's.-

While the drilling apparatus is in transit on its downward movementthrough the pipe sections the drilling apparatus is effective as apiston-like member within the pipe sections. No fluid can pass thedrilling apparatus on its downward movement through the pipe sections asmembers are provided to substantially conform to the inner cylindricalbore of the pipe sections and chuck and will not permit the passage offluid therethrough until the drilling apparatus is positively seated inoperative position on the chuck. During the above operation as theapparatus enters the chuck a shoulder 4a is provided therein to stop thedownward movement of the apparatus at which time the locking devices arefree to be seated in operative position on the chuck 4 by the force ofthe moving fluid under pressure expass therethrough may be regulated tohold the desired pressure within the well hole, thereby keeping thewalls of the well hole from caving or sluiling and freezing the piping.It is apparent that in forcing a drilling apparatus through pipesections depended within a well hole that the'fiuid pressure may becontrolled by the manipulation of the valve and the drilling apparatusmay be transported downwardly through the pipe sections at the desiredspeed and the desired fluid pressure within the well hole may bemaintained. This is a very essential factor in my method of drilling inthat when wild oil or gas pressures are encountered and it is necessaryto replace a drilling apparatus it canbe done with safety and dispatchby holding the wild pressures in abeyance within the well hole byregulated continuous circulation of the fluid under pressure and thepipe sections and chuck may be rotated to prevent their becoming fast inthe earth. By converting the line 6 in the well cap 2 and the well holeH into an intake line with suitable connections to the slush pumps andby conversion of the chuck 4,.pipe sections 3, turntable joint I and theconnecting line 8 thereto as the discharge line for the fluid thefollowing procedure may be adopted in forcing a drilling apparatusupwardly through the pipe sections and chuck without removing the chuckand pipe sections from the well hole by the use of moving fluid underpressure. As moving fluid under pressure is forced downwardly into thewell hole ll, exteriorly of the pipe sections 3 a-fluid pressure will beexerted against the drilling apparatus from the bottom thereof and asthe arrangement of the parts in the apparatus are so constructed that aback-pressure valve ild within the spear tube head I! closes the fluidpassage Hg to prevent communication of the moving fluid under pressurefrom below with the interior of the pipe sections thus preventingpassage of fluid upwardly through the drilling apparatus and again theapparatus is effective as a piston like member within the chuck and pipesections. The locking members are constructed to be dislodged by theforce of upwardly moving fluid under pressure and the drilling apparatusis unseated from the chuck free to be moved upwardly through the pipesections. In detaching a drilling apparatus from a chuck andtransporting it upwardly through the pipe sections connected to saidchuck by the use of moving fluid under pressure in the manner described,the speed of the drilling apparatus and the desired pressure may bemaintained within the well hole by the manipulation of the valve 9. Acatcher I2 is stationed within the pipe sections at or near top thereofto receive the drilling apparatus which has been forced up through thepipe sections by the moving fluid, which holds the same forthe'convenience of the operator. Where pipe and couplings havingirregular internal bores are used in drilling wells by the'system hereindescribed it may be necessary to make an extension or elongation of themembers and parts of the drilling apparatus, such as that shown in Fig.1'7, to make the same effective as a piston like member in transportingthe drilling apparatus through the pipe sections, said extension orelongation having a length greater than the distance between twoirregularities within the bores of the couplings and the pipe sections,the outer periph cry of said extension or elongation conformingsubstantially to the reduced bore of the couplings and the pipesections.

Sealing rings 3b may be stationed-within the couplingmembers 3a and pipesections [to positively prevent the by-passing of fluid between theouter periphery of the extension or elongation and the opening withinthe sealing rings as the drilling apparatus thus constructed is intransit within the pipe sections, thus it will be seen that theextension or elongation, being the spear tube head I! on the drillingapparatus and 33 on the sample drilling apparatus or 25 on the. grappleapparatus, is at all times disposed through one or more coupling membersand/0r sealing rings to form the piston like member necessary by whichthe drilling apparatus and grapple apparatus are forced through the pipesections and couplings having irregular bores by the use of moving fluidunder pressure.

A grapple apparatus such as shown in Fig. 3 may be employed to be forcedby moving fluid under pressure downwardly through the pipe sections towhich the chuck is connected to engage a drilling apparatus andtransport it from the well hole. The grapple apparatus is constructed tobe eifective as a piston-like member within the pipe sections and chuckwhen in transit from the earth's surface to its objective. The grappleapparatus is used in-case of emergency should the back-pressure valve inthe spear tube heads of either the drilling apparatus or sample drillingapparatus become ineifective to render the method of detaching andforcing the drills upwardly through the pipe sections of themselves bythe utilization of moving fluid under pressure.

Having thus described the method wherein a drilling apparatus may betransported and forced through pipe sections and attached and detachedto a chuck connected thereto by the use of moving fluid under pressurewithout removing the chuck andpipe sections from the well hole, a detaildescription of the unit employed to drill and sample the earth'sformations in carrying out my system of drilling wells is hereinafterset forth.

Upon engagement of the grapple apparatus with the spear tube head II ofthe drilling apparatus the shoulder 23 on the depending grapple-v stem24 stops the downward movement of the grapple stem and the ball bearings24a which" stem is attached until the spear tube head rests on top ofthe shoulder 23 of thegrapple stem as shown in Fig,- 4, at which timethe fluid passages 27, 21 in body 26 have been raised within the chamber28 of the spear tube head 25 which is of larger diameter than the body26, to allow free passage of fluid under pressure to pass through thefluid passages 2?, 21 in body 26 and downwardly through'the fluidpassages 29 in the grapple stem 24 thereby allowing the moving fluidunder pressure to pass downwardly through a drilling apparatus such asherein shown so that circulation of fluid downwardly may be maintained.By a reversal of the course of the fluid. that is, by forcing the samedownwardly exterioriy of the pipe sections and the chuck and within thewell hole proper a iiuld pressure is exerted against the spear tube head2i the grapple apparatus which is effective as a pistonlike memberwithin the-chuck and the pipe sections in that the back-pressure valves30 in the body 30a of the grapple apparatus will close the fluidpassages 30b with the aid of the spring 3110, thereby preventing fluidfrom passing upwardly therethrough while the corrugated sealing packer3| will prevent any fluid to by-pass between the outer periphery of thepacker and the inner periphery of the chuck and pipe sections as thegrapple apparatus is being forced upwardly through the chuck and pipesections. By carrying a drilling apparatus which the grapple apparatushas engaged and detached from a chuck the same may be transportedupwardly to or near the top of the pipe sections to be received by acatcher stationed therein to engage and hold the same for theconvenience of the operator. This is one form of grapple apparatus thatmay be used to carry out the above method of forcing a grapple apparatusthrough pipe sections and chuck having substantially uniform internalbores by use of moving fluid under pressure in engaging a drillingapparatus and withdrawing the same from a well hole without removing thepipe sections and chuck from the well hole, however, it will beunderstood that the grapple apparatus may be changed in construction andbe used for transporting any object upwardly or,downwardly through pipe.

' ingly against the inner bore thereof.

intermesh with corresponding shaped shoulders la oi the chuck thedownward movement or the head i! and the parts attached thereto, namelythe central cutter I4 and the movable cutters l3, I! are stopped andpositioned on the chuck to be locked into engagement with the recesses4b,

lb and the inclined rounded notches 4e, 4e oi the chuck. Betweenshoulders llc, I80 on the upper rounded portions llb, lib oi. the wedgebars and the bottom ofthe spear tube head I! a packing gasket 2! andplate 22 are sleevably mounted. Head l1 having a corrugated sealingpacker "a surrounding the outer periphery thereof to prevent theby-passing oi fluid between the spear tube head I! and the inner bore ofthe pipe sections and chuck. The sealing packer Ila has corrugations onits outer periphery which are cupped upwardly when the drillingapparatus is moving downwardly within the pipe sections and chuck andare held yield- The corrugations remain in an upwardly cupped positionwhile the drilling apparatus i in drilling position on the chuck andaids packing gasket 2! to prevent by-passing oi the fluid and topositively direct the fluid through the fluid passageways .sure frombelow forces the same upwardly through the pipe sections. Inwardlywithin the spear tube head 11, valve rods llb, l'lb are provided for thefluid passageways 18d, l8d of the wedge bars said valve rods beingrigidly connected to trip rods l'lc,. llc which are slidably disposedthrough spear tube head I! and extend therebelow, said valve rods serveto close the fluid passageways Hid, l8d of the wedge bars while thecentral cutter II which is rigidly connected to a supporting head I5 isused to drill the inner or center portion of the hole. The movablecutters are similar in. construction and are attached to the centralcutter by pins l6, l6 which are a part of the upper portion of the shankoi the movable cutters l3, l3 said cutters being swung from separateaxis. The pin joint connections are so arranged to allow the movablecutters and shank portions free bodily penduious movement in oppositedirections outwardly when being seated on the chuck in operativeposition for drilling and free bodily pendulous movement inwardly of thechuck to an inoperative position. A spear tube head I1 is provided,which carries the wedge bars I8, iii, the upper rounded portion lab, Nbof the wedge bars being connected into spear tube head H by pin IS. Therounded portion of the wedge bars are free to slide through head l5, andthe lower portion of the wedge bars extend below head l5 and beingprovided with shoulders i8a, i8a by which head I5 is carried while thedrilling apparatus is in transit within the pipe sections as shown byFig. 1c, and form a support for head-l5 and central cutter I4 which isattached thereto by bolts 20, and the movable cutters l3, l3 at the pinsl6, l6. Thus it will be seen that while thedrilling apparatus is intransit within the pipe sections that spear tube head I! forms a supportfor the entire apparatus. When triangular shaped shoulders lid on thestopping head I! the drilling apparatus is passing. downwardly throughthe pipe sections and prior to the full extent of the wedging action inlooking the cutters on the chuck. It is apparent that the spear tubehead I! and associated parts comprise a piston like member within thepipe sections and chuck. To accomplish the wedging action the spear tubehead I! to which the wedge bars are connected is forced down by movingfluid under pressure to rest on head l5 when the tool is stopped andplaced in position for locking engagement with the-chuck by the wedgebars.

' The enlarged portion l3a, l3a on the shank of the movable cutters l3,iii are urged into locking engagement with the recesses 41), 4b of thechuck by the fluid pressure exerted against the spear tube head wherebypositive rotation of the cut ters will be imparted upon rotation of thepipe sections and chuck. As the spear tube head I! is nearing its fulldownward seated position on the chuck, however, depending trip rods I10,I10 which are slidably mounted within spear tube head 11 and throughpacking gasket 2| and plate 22 and extend therebelow to engage the headi5 prior to plate 22. As the trip rods I10, I10 contact the head IS theplate 22, packing gasket 2| and spear tube head il slide downwardly overthe trip rods and valve rods, to rest and stop on the head l5 andin sodoing the valve rods which are shorter than the trip rods clear the topof the fluid passageways l8d, lid of the wedge bars in which they weredisposed and are held in this distended -position by thejtrip rods whichrest on the head II. This placesthe drilling apparatus into positivelocked operative position onthe chuck as shown in Fig. 1b. The course ofthe fluid denoted by the single arrow heads which is now free to passdownwardly through the fluid passages Hg in the back-pressure valve body"I as the valve Nd and springs 11h will yield to the downward pressureapplied on the flushing fluid and rush to the opened fluid passagewayslBd, I M of the wedge bars to be expelled at the lower end thereof. Therelative position of each wedge bar to its respective movable cutter andshank portion is such that the wedge bar that actuates its respectivemovable cutter into locked operative position on the chuck is providedwith fluid passageways id, id through its members and when said wedgebars are in operative position on said chuck,'fluid under pressure maybe directed therethrough to wash the cuttings from the faces of thecutters and to force the cuttings upwardly exteriorly of l drillingapparatus is transported 'upwardlythrough the pipe section to bereceived by catcher I2 stationed within the pipe sections at or near thetop thereof.

A sample drilling apparatus such as shown in Figs. 1d, 1e and le' maybeemployed to sample the earths formations and is adapted to beinterchangeably connected to the chuck 4 in replacing the drillingapparatus as shown in Figs. 1b and 10 by the force of moving fluid.under pressure and transported in like manner through the pipe sections3 and constructed-to be transported through pipe sections of substantialuniform internal bores or pipe sections of irregular internal bores. Thegrappling apparatus likewise is suitably arranged to be used inconnection with the sample drilling apparatus as in the case of thedrilling apparatus. It is thought that the device'will be betterunderstood from a detail description thereof. An expander 32 is providedwhich is carried by a spear tube head indicated here at 33, beingsimilar in construction to spear tube head l1 of the drilling apparatus.A shank 34 is carried by the expander to which the sample drill 35 isattached. When triangular shaped shoulders 36 on the shank 34 engage andintermesh with corresponding shap d stopping shoulders 4a, 4a of thechuck 4 the downward movement of the shank is arrested and positioned sothat the windows 31, 31 in said shank and the floating key members 38,38 disposed therein are in alignment with the recesses 4b, 4b of thechuck 4. Thus positioned said floating key members are free to beactuated into locking engagement with said recesses 4b, 4b of the chuckby the expander 32 to positively hold said shank non-rotatable withinsaid chuck. The bottom faces of the windows 31-31 of the headed tubularsleeve or shank 34 are inclined outwardly and downwardly to form a seatfor the lower inclined portions of the locking keys 38-,-3 8 and forhearing the thrust of said locking keys when the same are in extendedoperative position on the drill stem and the weight of the drill stem isapplied as during coring operations in drilling with a drillinginstrument of this character,

The upper inclined portions of the locking keys are adapted to bearagainst correspondingly shaped seats 4d-4d of the chuck when the lookingkeys are in extended operative position. Also the bottom faces of thewindows 3131,are inclined outwardly and downwardly to act as guides fordeflecting the locking keys which slide I downwardly and outwardly onthe bottom inclined faces of the windows 31--31 in response to thedownward movement of the central wedge bar. An upward movement of thecentral wedge bar will cause the locking keys to move upwardly andinwardly to retracted position within said windows 31-31 and therebyunlock said drilling instrument or core barrel from the chuck and drillstem. The expander has longitudinal grooves 33, 39 on its outerperiphery with the face at the bottom'of said grooves being inclineddownwardly and inwardly on which relative inclined faces on the keymembers race. When the expander is actuated downwardly to move said keymembers outwardly through windows 31, 31 into locked engagement with therecesses 4b, 4b in the chuck. Inclined seats 4d, 4d at the top of therecesses 4b, 4b bear the upward thrust of corresponding inclinedshoulders 38b, 38b on the top of the key members 38, 38 during thesample drilling operation. When the expander reaches its full downwardmovement, plate 40 rests on top of bushing 4| attached to the top ofshank 34. The plate 40 and packing gasket 42 are sleeveably mounted onthe upper portion of the expander, said expander being attached to andcarried by spear tube head 33 with the packing gasket and the platemounted below said spear tube head. The spear tube head is surrounded bya corrugated sealing packer 43 to prevent the by-passing of fluid as thespear tube head is forced through the pipe sections by moving fluidunder pressure. Within spear tube head 33 a back pressure valve 44 isprovided in body 44a which is screwed interiorly of said spear tubehead, and a spring 440 to normally hold said back-pressure valve seatedin said body 44a, thereby closing the fluid passages 44b in body 44a toresist an upward pressure. Trip rods 45 are provided within said headand extend through said head, the packing gasket and plate with a valverod 46 attached rigidly to said trip .rods by a cross member. The valverod is, disposed within the fluid passageway 41 through the expander 32to close said fluid passageway giving the spear tube head the effect ofa pistonlike member while being forced downwardly through the pipesections by moving fluid under pressure. As the downward movement of thehank 34 is arrested by stopping shoulders 4a of chuck the fluid pressureon the spear tube head forces said head downwardly which in turn forcesthe expander downwardly within the shank to actuate the floating keymembers outtrip rods is held distended away from the fluid passageway 41to allow th fluid under pressure to pass downwardly through thecommunicating holes "a to wash the cuttings from the cutters and carrythe same upwardly within the well hole without injury to the core formedwithin the sample drill and receptacle. Fig. 1d shows the sampledrilling apparatus in locked operative position on the chuck.

In Figs. 1c and la the sample drilling apparatus is shown being forcedupwardly through the pipe sections having been detached from the chuckby moving fluid under pressure the course of which is indicated .by thedouble arrow heads. The moving fluid under pressure is forced downwardlyexteriorly of the pipe section and chuck which are depended within thewell hole which exerts an upward pressure against the spear tube head33, the fluid passing thru the communicating holes 35a thereby forcingsaid head upwardly carrying the expander to unlock the key members fromengagement with the recesses of the chuck. A body 48 with packer I9, isattached to the lower end of the expander and is provided with aninwardly beveled annular shoulder 48a to engage corresponding beveledfaces 38a of the inner extending portion of the crotches of the keymembers at the bottom thereof and as the expander is lifted upwardly theinclined grooves 88, 39 allow the key members to be lifted upwardly andinwardly to a retracted position within the windows to disengage theshank from the chuck, thus permitting the sample drilling apparatus tobe moved upwardly of the chuck and the pipe sections by the force of themoving fluid under pressure, the spear tube head a ain being'eilectlveas a piston like member within the chuck and pipe sections in that thebackpressure valve 44 will close and prevent the moving fluid underpressure from passing upwardly therethrough while the corrugated sealingpacker 4! will prevent the moving fluid under pressure to by-passbetween the outer periphery of the sealing packer and the innerperiphery of the 'bore of the chuck and the pipe sections. A catchercomprising a stem I! with inclined raceways |2a is part of the body 12dwhich is screwed into the kelley sub-coupling 1a for receiving the speartube head of the drilling apparatuses or the grapple apparatus all ofwhich are similar in construction. Ball bearings I 2b are Provided forsaid inclined raceways l2a with a pin |2e to hold the same within therespective raceways. Fluid passages l2c permit fluid to pass through thebody l2d in either direction. As the spear tube head is forced intoengagement with the stem I! of the catcher the portion of the ballbearings which protrude outwardly of said stem are forced inwardly andupwardly in the raceways to P rmit the spear tube head to sleeve overthe entire stem at which time the ball hearings will fall back to normalposition and that portion which protrudes outwardly of said stem willengage the upper internal shoulders I 1e, 25a and 33a of the collars Hi,25b and 33b screwed to the tops of the spear tube heads I1, 25 and 33respectively to hold the apparatuses. After the upward pressure has beenreleased the operator may easily withdraw the apparatuses from the P peSections y screwlng the kelley sub-coupling Ia and lift the same fromthe pipe sections.

It is apparent that a very simple means has been provided to carry outmy system of drilling wells which will be useful in reducing the cost ofdrilling deep wells by a safe and expedient method as well as being ableto drill at great depths heretofore unexplored.

-It is obvious that many changes in the details of construction andarrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a drilling instrument a jointed drill stem pipe havingconstrictions therein at said joints. sealing rings at saidconstrictions, an inner'tube slldable longitudinally of said drill stemand through said sealing rings and constrictions the full length of saiddrill stem, the said inner tube being longer than the distance betweensaid constrictions whereby fluid may act on said tube to move the samelongitudinally of said drill stem.

2. In drilling wells by rotary method, the method of operation includingthe steps of inserting a drilling instrument into the upper end of adrill stem pipe extending in a well and moving said instrumentdownwardly and locking it in operative position at the lower end of saiddrill stem, operating said drill stem and instrument to drill the well,and then reversing the course of the fluid by sealing between thesurface casing and the drill stem and pumping fluid downwardly betweenthe surface casing and the drill stem and into the well below so as toact on said instrument at the lower end of said drill stem and releasesaid instrument and to force said instrument upwardly through said drillstem to efl'ect a recovery of said instrument without removing saiddrill stem from the well.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drill stem pipeextended in a well, a removable drilling instrument having cuttermembers thereon adapted to be moved through said drill stem, including ahead having locking members thereon, hydraulically operated means toextend said locking members to engage said drill stem, said lockingmembers being releasable by an upward circulation of fluidin said drillstem to release said drilling instrument from said drill stem and allowsaid drilling instrument to be elevated by said circulating fluidupwardly throughv said drill stem to the surface without removing saiddrill stem from the well.

4. In drilling wells by rotary method, the method of operation includingthe steps of inserting a grapple apparatus into the upper end of a drillstem pipe extending in a well andmoving' said grapple downwardly toengage a removable device at the lower end of said drill stem. thenreversing the course of the fluid by sealin between the surface casingand the drill stem and pumping fluid downwardly between the surfacecasing and said drill stem and into the well below so as to act on saidgrapple to carry said grapple and removable 'device upwardly through thedrill stem to eilect a recovery of said grapple and removable devicewithout removing said drill stem from the well.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drill stem pipeextended in a well, a removable sampling device adapted to be movedthrough said drill stem, including an upper locking device havinglocking keys thereon, hydraulically operated means to extend said keysto engage said drill stem, a sample tube below said locking device witha receiving chamber therein, said locking keys being releasable by anupward circulation of fluid in said drill stem to release said samplingdevice from said drill stem and allow said sampling device to beelevatcd by said circulating fluid upwardly through said drill stem tothe surface without removing said drill stem from the well. 7

6. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well,a seat in said drill stem, a removable core barrel assembly adapted tobe moved through said drill stem to the seat therein and including aheaded shank having locking keys thereon and a core receiving tubetherebelow, a seat on said drill stem inclined outwardly and downwardlyto bear the thrust of said keys, a guide on said shank inclinedoutwardly and downwardly adapted to deflect said keys outwardly toengage said drill stem, an expander mounted on said shank and adapted tocontrol said keys and movable relative to said shank and said keys andadapted to cause said keys to engage said drill stem upon the downwardmovement of said expander relative to said shank and adapted to causesaid keys to become disengaged from said drill stem upon an upwardmovement of said expander relative to said shank.

7. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well,a seat in said drill stem. a surface casing set in the well and having acasing head thereon adapted to seal between the drill stem and saidsurface casing, a removable core barrel assembly adapted to be movedthrough said drill stem to the seat therein and including a headed shankhaving locking keys thereon and a core receiving tube therebelow, a seaton said shank inclined outwardly and downwardly to bear the thrust ofsaid keys, an expander mounted on said shank and adapted to control saidkeys and movable relative to said shank and said keys and adapted tocause said keys to engage said drill stem upon the downward movement ofsaid expander relative to said shank in response to pressure on flushingfluid pumped downwardly through said drill stem and adapted to causesaid keys to become disengaged from said drill stem upon an upwardmovement of said expander relative to said shank in response to pressureon flushing fluid pumped downwardly between said surface casing and saiddrill stem.

8. In a drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in awell, a seat in said drill stem, at surface casing set in said wellhaving a casing head thereon adapted to seal between the drill stem andsaid surfacecasing, a removable drill bit assembly including drill bitsadapted to be moved through said drill stem and seated thereon. meansadapted to move said drill bits one by the other to an opened extendedoperative position on said drill stem. a piston head provided with meansto open a passageway whereby flushing fluid pumped downwardly throughsaid drill stem may pass to the exterior of said drill stem formaintaining circulation of the flushing fluid during drillingoperations, said assembly adapted to be forced upwardly through saiddrill stem in response to flushing fluid pumped downwardly between saidsurface casing and said drill stem acting on said assembly to force saiddrill bits one by the other inwardly to closed position and causing saidassembly to be moved upward through said 'drill stem to the surfacewithout removing said drill stem from the well.

9. In a drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in awell, a seat in said drill stem, a surface casing set in said well andhaving a casing head thereon adapted to seal between the drill stem andsaid surface casing, a removable drill bit assembly including drill bitsadapted to be moved through said drill stern and seated thereon. meansadapted to move said drill bits one by the other to an opened extendedoperative position on said drill stem, a piston closed position andcausing said assembly to be moved upward through said drill'stemto thesurface without removing said drill stem from the well.

10. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in awell, a seat in said drill stem, a surface casing set in said well andhaving a casing head thereon adapted to seal between the drill stern andsaid surface casing, a removable drill bit assembly including asupporting head carrying drill bits adapted to be moved through saiddrill stem and seated thereon, a piston head provided with a packingmember and having actuating means connected thereto for moving saiddrill bits to an extended operative position on said drill stem by arelative downward movement in respect to said supporting head carryingthe drill bits in response to pressure on the flushing fluid pumpeddownwardly, through said drill stem, said drill bits adapted to be movedinwardly to a released position with respect to the drill stem by anupward movement of said piston head relative to said supporting headcarrying the drill bits in response to flushing fluid pumped downwardlybetween said surface casing and said drill stem into the well and toforce said assembly upward through the drill stem to the surface withoutremoving said drill stem from the well.

11. The method of taking core samples from drilled wells, whichcomprises forcing a sample taking device through a set tubular drillstem to the lower end of the latter by pumping mud into the stem behindthe device, then operating the stem and drill in the usual manner toeffect the movement of a core into the device, then driving a plug downthe stem by means of mud pumped thereinto and effecting the coupling ofthe plug and device together, and finally pumping mud into the wellaround the outside of the stem for entrance thereinto beneath the deviceand plug to effect the raising of the device.

12. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drill stem pipeextended in a well. a removable sampling device adapted to be movedthrough said drill stem, including an upper locking device havinglocking keys thereon and a core receiving tube therebelow, hydraulicallyoperated means to extend said keys to engage said drill stem, a cuttermember on said core receiving tube, said locking keys being releasableby an upward circulation of fluid in said drill stem to release saidsampling device from said drill stem and allow said sampling device tobe elevated by said circulating fluid upwardly through said drill stemto the surface without removing said drill stem from the well.

13. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in awell, a seat in said drill stem, a. removable core barrel assemblyadapted to be moved through said drill stem to the seat therein andincluding a headed shank havin locking keys thereon and a core receivingtube therebelow, a cutter member on said core receiving tube, a seat onsaid drill stem inclined outwardly and downwardly to bear the thrust ofsaid keys. and expander mounted on said shank adapted to control saidkeys and movable relative to said shank and said keys and adapted tocause said keys to engage said drill stem upon the downward movement ofsaid expander relative to said shank and adapted to cause said keys tobecome disengaged from said drill stem upon an upward movement of saidexpander relative to said shank. o

14. A drilling apparatus comprising a dri stem pipe extended in a well,a seat in said drill stemra'removable core barrel assembly adapted to bemoved through said drill stem to the seat therein and including a headedshank having locking keys thereon and a core receiving tube therebelow,a seat on said shank inclined outwardly and downwardly to bear thethrust of said keys. a guide on said shank inclined outwardly anddownwardly adapted to deflect said locking keys outwardly to engage saiddrill stem, expander means mounted on said shank and adapted to controlsaid locking keysand movable relative to said shank and said lockingkeys and adapted to cause said locking keys to engage said drill stemupon the downward movement of said expander relative to said shank andadapted o cause said locking keys to become disengaged from said drillstem upon an upward movement of said expander relative to said shank.

15. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in awell. a seat in said drill stem, a removable core barrel assemblyadapted to be moved through said drill stem to the seat therein andincluding a headed shank having locking keys thereon and a corereceiving tube therebelow, a cutter member on said core receiving tube,a seat on said shank inclined outwardly and downwardly to bear thethrust of said keys, a guide on said shank inclined outwardly anddownwardly adapted to deflect said keys outwardly to engage said drillstem, expander means mounted 'on said shank and adapted to control saidlocking keys and movable relative to said shank and said locking keysand adapted to cause said locking keys to engage said drill stem uponthe downward movement of said expander relative to said shank andadapted to cause said locking keys to become disengaged from said drillstem upon an upward movement '01 said expander relative to said shank.

aLELAND P. KINNEAR.

